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May 03, 2015, 4:14PM

The Montclair Film Festival is hot. It began May 1 with _Hello, My Name is Doris_, a new, poignant comedy, starring Sally Field. She brings to life a cheerful, kind 60 something hoarder, who still lives in her childhood home where for decades she cared for her recently deceased mother. Field does wonders with this oddball character, though for me... Full story »

July 17, 2015, 7:34AM

Everyone should read Todd Gitlin's elegant and smart "New York Times op-ed, The Bernie Sanders Moment.":http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/opinion/sunday/the-bernie-sanders-moment.html Gitlin, a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia, has written several brilliant books including two classics, "The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage":http://www.amazon.com/The-Sixties-Years-Hope-Days/dp/0553372122 and "Occupy Nation: The Roots, the Spirit, and the Promise of Occupy Wall Street.":http://www.amazon.com/Occupy-Nation-Spirit-Promise-Street-ebook/dp/B006VE1GBG In the _Times_ he writes... Full story »

July 02, 2015, 2:17PM

As July 4 approaches and blockbuster films dominate the screens, I am reminded about one of the things that's great about my hometown, Montclair, New Jersey. It's the "Montclair Film Festival":http://montclairfilmfest.org/ that takes place every May. This urban suburb of 38,000 residents, home to many spectacular million dollar Victorian mansions, is also one of the state's economically and racially integrated... Full story »

May 30, 2015, 7:52AM

MONTCLAIR, NJ -- BlueWaveNJ, one of New Jersey's most effective grassroots progressive organization based out of Montclair, has endorsed Assembly members Annette Quijano and Jamel Holley in the Democratic Primary election in the 20th legislative district on Tuesday. Citing their commitment to progressive values and willingness to take on Governor Chris Christie, the organization has pledged its support to Quijano... Full story »

May 12, 2015, 2:40PM

A large coalition in New Jersey, led by A Time To Care, which includes NJ Citizen Action, is fighting for paid sick days protections, but the NJ State Assembly is sitting on its hands. Our elected leaders have failed to advance legislation that will protect all residents. For months, the passage of this incredibly important worker protection has been delayed,... Full story »

April 15, 2015, 10:16AM

"Thousands of McDonald's workers are striking and rallying across the country at this moment.":http://time.com/3821602/minimum-wage-strikes/ And for good reason. For too long, McDonald's has paid its workers too little to feed our families or pay our rent. Tens of thousands of people are standing with them today at rallies around the world. Workers from a many new industries have joined the... Full story »

April 15, 2015, 7:46AM

Each year on April 15, the public spotlight falls on taxes. There is one group in New Jersey called "New Jersey Policy Perspectives":http://www.njpp.org that focuses on taxes all year round. I was reminded of this when I got an email today from Jon Whiten, the group's Deputy Director. Here is his three takaways. 1) We all have to do it....... Full story »

March 31, 2015, 6:54PM

Decry Over $100 Million In EDA Tax Incentives Awarded To Panasonic March 31, 2015 Today the "National Action Network":http://nationalactionnetwork.net/, New Jersey, joined several community groups outside "Panasonic Corporation's North American":http://www.panasonic.com/about/ headquarters in Newark to condemn its discriminatory practices and called for a moratorium to the generous corporate subsidies from New Jersey taxpayers that benefitted Panasonic. "Panasonic has recently received over... Full story »

March 08, 2015, 1:59PM

Take Two 'Normal' People, Add Money To Just One Of Them, And Watch What Happens Next Most of us believe the growing gap between the rich and everyone else is dangerous to our democracy. Here is a reason I never knew about. Click on the link below to discover a scientific study that explains why many people with a lot... Full story »

February 23, 2015, 11:07PM

Is it a coincidence that as the 2016 presidential primaries warm up, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani lets loose his accusation that President Obama doesn't love America? . The media dutifully gives him a podium and he elaborates, calling Obama's policies socialist. Next, he ties his accusations to race: "He [Obama] sees Christians slaughtered and doesn't stand up... Full story »

January 19, 2015, 1:52PM

In 1961 M.L. King spoke at the "Fellowship of the Concerned." He knew that the liberals attending this annual meeting opposed the confrontational tactics of student "sit-ins" and "freedom rides," and preferred a more gradual approach. He wanted the veteran liberals to see the student movement as a natural outgrowth of their own work and his own teachings: The question... Full story »

January 14, 2015, 5:42PM

NJ Communities United has been working with Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, to tackle the toxic mortgage problem in Newark. “This Saturday,” said Trina Scordo, NJ Communities United’s executive director, “our group will hold a workshop for homeowners to answer questions about eminent domain, the centerpiece of the program, and explain who can qualify.” For the last five years, NJ Communities... Full story »

December 30, 2014, 9:10PM

Over the weekend, Pakistani officials accused _Showtime_ of "using its CIA thriller Homeland to inaccurately portray Pakistan as an ugly, ignorant, terror-plagued hellhole. ":http://nypost.com/2014/12/27/pakistani-officials-furious-over-countrys-portrayal-in-homeland/ “Repeated insinuations that an intelligence agency of Pakistan is complicit in protecting the terrorists at the expense of innocent Pakistani civilians is not only absurd but also an insult to the ultimate sacrifices of the thousands... Full story »

December 11, 2014, 7:50AM

“We are building the biggest weapon for oppression in the history of mankind,” says the whistle blower, Edward Snowden in the new documentary thriller _Citizenfour_, which exposes the massive invasive post-9/11 US spy industry. No film could be more timely, especially given yesterday’s release of a "Senate report":http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/09/world/cia-torture-report-document.html?_r=0 that accuses the CIA of repeatedly misleading the public, Congress, and the... Full story »

December 04, 2014, 5:28PM

"REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG is an intimate and nuanced investigation into the life of one of the most influential and provocative thinkers of the 20th century. Endlessly curious, passionate and gracefully outspoken throughout her career, Susan Sontag became one of the most important literary, political and feminist icons of her generation. The New York Times called this new documentary film "compelling"... Full story »